SARAH HADLAND:Wow, today has gone so quickly. I've been reading this brilliant book. It's called Nelly The Monster Sitter. I just can't put it down! So this book is all about Nelly. She is super smart. She's realised there's a reason why you never see monsters out and about. They're all stuck at home. Because they can't get babysitters.
SARAH HADLAND:Nelly's solution is very simple. She decides she's going to become a monster sitter. But, you know, looking after monsters isn't an easy task. For a start, the monster parents living in each house come in all shapes and sizes. And I really do mean all shapes and sizes.
SARAH HADLAND:At number 55, Nelly meets a couple of slimy Squurms called Dollop and Splat. "They were like slugs, giant, orange, upright slugs, with moist, glistening bodies and wet, foaming mouths. All over their heads, soft, yellow eyes nestled like egg yolks.
SARAH HADLAND:And from their cheeks, stiff, black whiskers bristled like burnt sparklers. 'They seemed very pleased to see Nelly. 'Give us a squonk, Nelly the Monster Sitter!' gurgled Splat. Nelly braced herself as two spaghetti-like feelers suddenly sprang from the Squurm's chest and planted themselves on Nelly's nose.
SARAH HADLAND:Nelly's face tingled with cold as two more feelers sprung forward from Dollop's shoulders and fastened themselves to her cheeks. She'd never been kissed Squurm style before. It was like having your face pressed into a bowl full of cold jelly." Ughh!
SARAH HADLAND:The great thing about this book is it gets you to really think about monsters as normal people. So, now when I'm walking down my road, I'm imagining that maybe there's a couple of monsters live there, and if I did see like a green, slimy tentacle coming out of a letterbox I wouldn't be so hasty to run away and scream.
SARAH HADLAND:I'd probably think they might be quite nice. They might be like the Water Greeps. What I love about Nelly is she's so brave and even though her sister, Asti, is really critical of everything she does Nelly kind of stands up for herself, and she stands up for the monsters as well.
SARAH HADLAND:I really like that, that she sticks up for other people, which is quite difficult sometimes, but she does it! Green, prickly, fuzzy, purple, massive, hairy, squelchy. Every job and every monster is different.
SARAH HADLAND:Imagine a dog with five tails, six legs and two tongues. That's Glug, one of the monsters Nelly has to look after. Nelly tries playing fetch with Glug, but it isn't too successful. "Nelly jumped back in alarm as Glug's jaws clamped down ferociously onto the branch and his head began to shake. His jaws shook with such force,
SARAH HADLAND:his two orange tongues actually blurred into one. In a slobbering, slavering frenzy of snarls, he reduced the branch to sawdust. Nelly stood motionless in the garden for a moment, trying to banish thoughts of what jaws like that could do
1300:03:58:00 00:04:20:03SARAH HADLAND:to her legs should Glug become prematurely peckish." Still, at least Nelly knows it's nearly Glug's dinnertime! "With a twist of her wrist she peered down at her watch. It was 6:45. Alligator chunks. 'Alligator chunks in 15 minutes,' she smiled." Alligator chunks? Urghh.
SARAH HADLAND:Course, monsters eating you is one thing, but when Glug runs away, Nelly knows she's in even bigger trouble. Imagine telling two monster parents that you've lost their precious baby. Eeek!
SARAH HADLAND:I loved being read aloud to when I was little, and I remember my mum and dad were really good at doing different voices. And then I went to my friend's house, and her dad read us the same book, but he didn't do the voices. I was really disappointed. What I love about reading is you imagine a character one way,
SARAH HADLAND:and somebody else might imagine it differently. It's up to the reader to decide how the character talks and what they look like. Nelly keeps a secret diary of all her monster-sitting jobs, which she makes sure her snotty sister Asti never finds. And in this book, there's a great map showing where all the monsters live.
SARAH HADLAND:It's brilliant. When I started this book, I imagined Nelly would be terrified! Ooh, thank you… SHE SCREAMS But in fact, every time she goes monster-sitting, she has an amazing adventure. I mean, the monsters may be green, prickly, fuzzy, purple, massive, hairy, ugly and squelchy.
SARAH HADLAND:But do you know what? They're actually really lovely, and you soon get used to them. I know I have. Get your tentacle off the cushion! Sorry. Cheeky!
Video summary
Actress Sarah Hadland reads extracts from 'Nelly the Monster Sitter' by Kes Gray (illustrated by Chris Jevons), explaining why she loves the book, how it captured her imagination, and why she loves to read.
The real and animated worlds collide to reveal the wonder that is contained within the book.
We watch as Sarah tells us about her day, surrounded by monsters but she didn't even realise!
Will Sarah be scared out of her house or embrace the monsters as new friends?
This clip is from the series Bringing Books to Life 2.
Nelly the Monster Sitter Teacher Notes
KS1 and KS2 English Discussion Questions
Before watching the video:
- How do you feel about monsters? Are they scary or friendly in your imagination? Why?
- What kind of monsters do you think might be in the story?
- Have you ever read a book about monsters? What was the title? What did you like about it?
While watching the video:
- Pause at 02:38 - How has reading the book made Sarah see her street differently?
- Pause at 02:56 - What are the things Sarah likes about Nelly, the main character?
- Pause at 05:00 - What made Sarah sad when her friend’s dad read to them? What did he miss out?
After watching the video:
- Would you like to read Nelly the Monster Sitter after watching this video? Why or why not?
- How has this video changed your perspective on monsters?
- Do you think you'd react differently if you encountered a monster now?
KS1 and KS2 English Activity Suggestions
- Monster Sitter's Handbook: Children could write a set of instructions on how to look after a range of monsters including its name, description, diet, home, health, how to keep it entertained, bedtime routines and more. Collect them to make a collaborative Monster Sitter Adventure handbook.
- Diary of a Monster Sitter: Ask children to imagine they're a monster sitter like Nelly. Have them write a diary entry describing their day looking after a particular monster, highlighting the fun and challenges they encountered.
- Monster Masterpieces: Encourage children to draw their own interpretations of imaginative friendly monsters and show them as if in an art gallery. Create a classroom display to appreciate and celebrate their creativity.
Take a look at our 500 Words resources for further inspiration around story writing.
These videos contribute to the current national curriculum requirements in:
- England - KS1/KS2 English: Develop positive attitudes to reading and understanding of what they read.
- Northern, Ireland - KS1/KS2 Language and Literacy: Extend the range of their reading and develop their own preferences.
- Scotland - 1st and 2nd Level Literacy and English: Reading - Enjoyment and choice.
- Wales - Progression Step 2/3 Languages, Literacy and Communication: Literature fires imagination and inspires creativity.
These discussion questions and activity suggestions provide opportunities to develop english and art and design knowledge and skills in meaningful contexts across all UK curricula.
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